Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-11-17

T0IQdluS DuU To 6uClTCI6 odCn H0Ck Will
the moose and to cover each head with the
cap. Jailer Folz approaches Spies. A
quick movement-so quick that it can
hardly be noticed-and the rope is around
his neck and being drawn taunt. There
is not movement of a muscle.-the same
stolid look, the same woe-begone look
from the eyes. Folz moved a step and
in moment the throat of Fischer was
encircled. He moved his head up and
down as if it hurt him. Engel does not
move as the operation is being performed.
Parsons rivets his gaze on the ground and
his features are contracted. All four are
evidently determined to die game.
A deputy approaches Spies with the cap
in his hands. The condemned man says
something in an undertone. He is evil
| IDENTIFY demonstrating. The deputy wavers
| for a moment. Spies speaks still more
earnestly. The deputy looks at the sher-
| iff; the latter closes his eyes. It is enough;
the cap is quickly drawn over the face of
| the Anarchist leader. 1t has been seen
| for the last time in life. The head of
Engel is next covered, then Fischer and
Parsons last. Ficher's head moves up and
down in the direction of the sheriff, who
| with his hands upon the iron railing of the
gallery, is ready to give the signal. 1t is as
| though the Anarchist, as well
he can, in his muslin-covered head, is
| reckoning the sheriff to approach him.
| That official, however, does not respond.
| There is moment of death-like stiffness.
| Then clear and distinct comes the voice
of Spies. His form straightens up, the
| muslin seems to move in harmony with
his lips ''Our silence is more powerful
than speech" That is all, but there is a
ring to it that echoes far away down
the corridor. Silence again for a
| second. Then in round full
voice a shout "Hurrah for Anarchy"
comes from Engel. Another pause.
broken this time by the voice of Fischer:
'This is the happest moment of my life"
He has had his say. Then the clear, we'll
modulated voice of Parsons breaks the op
pressive stiffness. There is not that en-
| thusiastic ring in it which marked the ut
| terances of the others. 1t is the voice of
| judge delivering a decision. A scarcely
definable pause between each word:
"Shali l be allowed to speak, Oh, men
and women of dear America! J"
\ The sheriff shifts his position q
| little, he is several feet away from the
| speaker, but the speaker must have seen
the movement through the folds of the
| cap. There is a rising infection in his
voice, not so much of pleading as of de.
mand. ''Let me speak, Sheriff Matson"
| is what he says. ''Let the voice of the
/
| the last words of Parsons had died upon
his lips. Four bodies swung in empty air,
| and the Haymarket massacre was
| avenged.
The drop fell at IL: 55.6. From the first
| step of Spies upon the scaffold until the
cuttin G of the rope, precisely six minutes
and three seconds had elapsed. For q
4 moment after the drop had fallen, not Q
| soul stirred. A low murmur like a pent-
up sigh of relief went through the CORR.
| dor. Then, as if moved by one common
| impulse, every man rose to his feet and
| every eye was rivited upon the body
of Spies. The arch-anarchist was
dying hard. His legs and arms
moved convulsively, with extraordinary
rapidity. 1t was as though he were alive
| and conscious, and struggling to free
himself from the cords that bound him.
His whole frame was agitated by a quiv-
| ering tremor. Low groans of horror
came from many lips, and the expression
"He's dying hard" was heard on all
| sides. This continued for over a minute
Ian hour it secondhand then the strug-
giles grew fainter, and fainter, until they
| finally ceased.
The bodies of Engel and Fischer were
motionless for moment after the drop,
save for the swinging to and fro. Then
Fischer's legs drew up and down and
| there was a convulsive movement in his
arms. Engeps struggles were brief.
Parsons alone died as though his heart
had been pierced by bullet. He came
down like log. There was not twitch,
not single contraction of the muscles.
His neck had been broken instantly. ALI
three of the others evidently slowly
strangled to death.